The 2026 FIFA World Cup may have brought me to Canada, but family moments, an emotional worship session that brought tears to my eyes and discovering the Calgary Stampede became the defining memories of my time in Calgary.
When I arrived at my sister’s place, one of my nieces sprinted straight past me, completely ignoring me. Ouch! I guess that’s what happens when you don’t video call often enough. It was a reminder that children need to see you regularly to truly know you and build that connection. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for us to bond.
The saying “blood is thicker than water” really is true. Somehow, I always managed to make the baby laugh, and I cannot describe the joy it brought me. Moments like that remind you that family is one of life’s greatest blessings.
I also have to give a special shout-out to my sister. She cooked up a storm throughout my stay and said her mission was to make sure I left Calgary a few kilograms heavier. I managed to take photos of some of the meals before attacking them, and yes, before anyone asks, I did add a little weight. I’m still slim though, just a slightly upgraded version.
Another highlight of my stay was attending church with my sister and her family. If you read my previous diary, you’ll remember I mentioned how the emotions of covering my first FIFA World Cup and reuniting with family were beginning to catch up with me.
During worship, the choir began singing “Made A Way” by Travis Greene. I held myself together until they sang, “And we’re standing here, only because You made a way.” That was it. The tears started flowing.
Standing there, I reflected on how years of dreaming and hard work had led me to my first FIFA World Cup and helped reunite me with my sister after so many years. It was a moment of pure gratitude.
Before flying from Toronto to Calgary, my sister told me my flight was probably full because of the Calgary Stampede. I must admit, I had no idea what she meant. When I heard “stampede”, I thought she was talking about people running in panic! So I asked her, “What happened?”
She explained that the Calgary Stampede is one of Canada’s biggest annual festivals, held every July in Calgary. The 10-day celebration attracts more than a million visitors each year and features one of the world’s largest rodeos, a famous parade, concerts, exhibitions and plenty of entertainment.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
The cowboy hats and boots I saw everywhere around the city were not just fashion statements, they were part of the Stampede celebrations.
Although I didn’t attend any of the events, it was impossible not to feel the excitement around Calgary.
I also reunited with a classmate I had not seen in 16 years. We explored downtown Calgary, enjoyed a Chinese meal and caught up on life. Another thing I never got used to was the daylight. At 10 p.m., it still looked like evening, something that felt very strange coming from Nigeria.
As much as I enjoyed every moment with family and experiencing another side of Canada, one thought lingered in my mind. With each team eliminated from the FIFA World Cup, the end of my own journey was drawing closer too. The countdown to returning home had begun, and I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to my sister again.
The adventure wasn’t over, but I could already hear the clock ticking.
